By Kim Legocki.
Asking me for my favorite dog-friendly eatery in SOMA is like asking me to pick my favorite travel destination…it can’t be done! Rather, I’ve compiled a list of places from coffee shops to swanky dining that I’ve personally visited with my poodle, Josie. For a good time, pair one of these restaurants with a dog-friendly walk.
.
Radius Cafe - SOMA
Radius
Where: 1123 Folsom St
Outdoor tables, hip vibe, and locally sourced foods make this one chic place to dine with your dog. We’ve enjoyed both brunch and happy hour with Josie Poodle. They procure all ingredients within the radius of 100 miles – hence their name.
.
Bloodhound
Address: 1145 Folsom St.
Such a terrific neighborhood bar…almost like Cheers, but with a Folsom Street vibe. For some reason, dogs make it easier to meet people. Most patrons have turned out to be neighbors, living within a few blocks of us. Lots of unusual beers on tap, but I’m a sucker for anything with Campari, so I stick to the signature drink – theBloodhound.
.
Axis Café and Gallery
Address: 1201 8th St at Irwin
One of my absolutely fave places for brunch. Easy parking, terrific service, great food, and a dog friendly patio. I order the Eggs Benedict with hard yolks – ick, no runny yellow stuff for me – and they are always perfect. Bottomless mimosas are never empty. Total hidden gem. Take a walk over to the Mission Creek dog park afterwards.
.
Chavo’s Mexican Restaurant
Address: 595 Bryant St at 4th Street
We come here when we’re too lazy to walk to Chipotle in Union Square. I’ve only had the chicken burrito which was cheap and filling. There is never a line so service is fast, which is good because you need to leave your dog outside when you order. We have always had the dog-friendly patio to ourselves. FYI – if you don’t want the cheese, guacamole and sour cream, the burritos are a buck cheaper.
.
The Creamery & Iron Cactus
Address: 685 4th St at Townsend
Nice place to come for coffee, salads, sandwiches, and gluten-free desserts. Looking around during my last visit, I believe MacBooks may be a requirement. Dogs have to be left outside when you order. I’m always worried that someone will make off with my poodle if I leave her outside, so I only stop here when there’s no line.
.
Blush
Address: 219 King St near AT&T Park
Finally! Fro-yo in SOMA with outdoor seating. They tout their organic yogurt as being non-fat and low calorie with lots of active live cultures. They also offered shaved ice which is frozen yogurt atop a bed of shaved ice and fresh fruit. I have personally tried most every flavor and like their signature, Blush, the best. This is not sweet fro-yo but rather tangy and “yogurty.” You’ll need to leave the dog outside to order but they are always happy to give me a sample of vanilla for Josie.
.
MoMo’s
Address: 760 2nd St. at King St.
We love eating at MoMo’s for lunch or dinner whenever the Giants are NOT playing. Ask for a table along the edge of the patio so your pup will keep itself entertained watching the sidewalk action.
.
SB 40
Address: Pier 40 at the Embarcadero
Their dog-friendly patio and fabulous views makes this a great starting point for a walk along the South Beach Harbor. Like MoMo’s, avoid this place pregame! It has a pleasant divey atmosphere with $3 happy hour pints and $1 oysters.
.
The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen
Address: 1 South Park (at 2nd St.)
Gluten-free bread and a dog-friendly patio…need I say more? Very popular at lunch with local workers. We love their breakfast grilled cheese sandwiches with egg – super filling. Mushroom Gruyere with a side of tomato soup is a perfect lunch on a cold day. The downside is limited seating and a growing reputation so try to avoid the popular 12pm time slot. Or better yet, get it to go and walk to South Park with your dog for a picnic.
.
Did I forget your favorite dog-friendly place? Drop me a note at sf@yapsie.com and I’ll be sure to give it a shout out in a future blog or newsletter.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
SOMA resident Kim Legocki works as a social media director at a local university to pay for dining and city adventures with her hubby and poodle, Josie. She and Josie are also the new SF community “yappers” for Yapsie.com, a new start-up focused on bringing together dog lovers and locally-owned businesses. Register on the site to receive their bi-weekly SF dog newsletter and join them at the Yapsie SOMA Pupcrawl on August 13th. You can also follow her on Twitter @kimlegocki.
(Photo used courtesy of cainbot and canine)
Dog Friendly (free)
